What is the Difference Between Shingles and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Shingles and Ramsay Hunt syndrome are two related medical conditions. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes shingles. In Ramsay Hunt syndrome, this virus infects the facial nerve near the inner ear, and leads to irritation and swelling of the nerve.

The key difference between shingles and Ramsay Hunt syndrome is their cause. Shingles is a condition caused by a viral infection that causes a painful rash, while Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a condition that occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one of the ears.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Shingles  
3. What is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
4. Similarities – Shingles and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
5. Shingles vs Ramsay Hunt Syndrome in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Shingles vs Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
7. FAQ – Shingles and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a skin condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The symptoms of this condition include pain, burning or tingling sensations, sensitivity to touch, a red rash that begins a few days, fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over, itching, sensitivity to light, fever, headache, and fatigue. The risk factors for shingles include age (often affects people older than 50), weakened immune systems, cancer treatments, and some medications like drugs that prevent rejection of transplanted organs.

Figure 01: Shingles

Shingles can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and skin biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for shingles include prescription antiviral drugs Acyclovir, Famciclovir, Valacyclovir, and pain medications.

What is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the same virus that causes shingles and chickenpox. After shingles and chickenpox clears up, the virus still lives in the nerves, and after years, they reactivate and affect facial nerves. The two main signs and symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome are a painful red rash with fluid-filled blisters near one ear and facial weakness/paralysis on the same side as the affected ear.

Figure 02: Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Ramsay Hunt syndrome can be diagnosed by medical history, physical exam, and testing a sample of fluid from one of the rash blisters in the ear. Furthermore, Ramsay Hunt syndrome can be treated through antiviral medications, corticosteroids, antianxiety medications, and pain relievers.

Similarities Between Shingles and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

1. Shingles and Ramsay Hunt syndrome are two related medical conditions.
2. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a complication resulting from shingles.
3. Both conditions can be caused by varicella-zoster virus.
4. Both conditions can be diagnosed through medical history and physical examination,
5. They can be treated through specific medications.

Difference Between Shingles and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Definition

1. Shingles is a viral disease that causes a painful rash on the skin.
2. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a complication of shingles that results in facial nerve paralysis.

Symptoms

1. The typical symptoms of shingles are enlarged lymph nodes, a cluster of tiny blisters that open spontaneously, stabling shooting pain, a tingling or burning sensation under the skin, fever, chills, headache, feeling tired, sensitivity to light, and upset stomach.
2. The typical symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome are a painful rash on your eardrum, ear canal, and earlobe, fluid-filled blisters in the ear canal and outside of the ear, rash on the tongue, throat, or roof of the mouth, severe ear pain, increased sensitivity to sound, hearing loss, dry eyes, and mouth, hoarseness, loss of taste and social anxiety.

Risk Factors

1. The risk factors for shingles are being 50 or older, stress, cancer, HIV or another disease, physical injury, long-term steroids, not getting didn’t vaccinated, and going through perimenopause or menopause.
2. The risk factors for Ramsay Hunt syndrome are older adults (older than 60), people who haven’t previously had chickenpox or been vaccinated for it, and immune system problems.

Diagnosis

1. Shingles can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and testing of a small sample of fluid from the blisters.
2. Ramsay Hunt syndrome can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, lab test (saliva, blood, or fluid), and MRI.

Treatment

1. The treatment options for shingles include Acyclovir, Famciclovir, Valacyclovir, anticonvulsant medicines such as gabapentin, medicated lotions, numbing medications such as lidocaine, pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, prescription painkillers such as codeine, tricyclic antidepressants, topical patches that contain capsaicin and injections of steroids and local anesthetics.
2. The treatment options for Ramsay Hunt syndrome include antiviral medications to treat the infection or decrease symptoms, such as Acyclovir or Valacyclovir, corticosteroids, pain relievers, and an anti-seizure medicine, such as carbamazepine to manage persistent pain (postherpetic neuralgia).

The following table summarizes the difference between shingles and Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Summary – Shingles vs Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Shingles and Ramsay Hunt syndrome are two related medical conditions. This is because Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a common complication of shingles. However, shingles are a viral infection that causes a painful rash on the skin, while Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs when shingles cause inflammation and damage to the 7th cranial nerve, leading to facial paralysis. The following table summarizes the difference between shingles and Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

FAQ: Shingles and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

1. What are the first signs and symptoms of shingles?

• The symptoms of shingles may include pain, burning or tingling sensations, a red rash that begins a few days after the pain, sensitivity to touch, fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over, and itching of the skin.

2. What is the most common treatment for shingles?

• The treatment options for shingles may include applying cool compresses on the skin, creams or lotions to help ease itching, taking topical, oral, or intravenous antivirals and antibiotics, and taking steroids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants for nerve pain.

3. Is Ramsay Hunt contagious?

• Ramsay Hunt syndrome is not a contagious condition. It is a complication resulting from shingles. It results in inflammation and damage to the 7th cranial nerve, leading to facial paralysis.

4. What causes Ramsay Hunt?

• Ramsay Hunt syndrome happens when the varicella-zoster virus is reactivated in the facial nerve, which is the cranial nerve that affects the face, tongue, and inner ear.

5. Is there a cure for Ramsay Hunt syndrome?

• Treatment for Ramsay Hunt syndrome may include taking antiviral medications to treat the infection or decrease symptoms, such as Acyclovir or Valacyclovir, anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease pain and swelling of the nerves, pain relievers and an anti-seizure medicine, such as carbamazepine to manage persistent pain.

 Reference:

1. “Shingles (Herpes Zoster): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.” WebMD.
2. “Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (Herpes Zoster Oticus): Causes & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Shingles” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Ramsey Hunt Syndrome” By Worme M, Chada R, Lavallee L – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Difference Between Pandemic and Epidemic Difference Between Pubic Lice and Scabies Difference Between Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers Difference Between Bronchitis and Whooping Cough       Difference Between ALS and MS (Multiple Sclerosis)